Background:
Sea Anemones are not plants but animals. They resemble plants by appearing to have “pedals” and cylinder shape column body. The “pedals” are actually tentacles that help the anemone defend itself from an intruder or catch prey by firing nematocysts on to the desired target. Each tentacle has hundreds of nematocysts, each nematocysts is made up of a trigger than when is touched sends a message to the nerve cell which then causes the epidermal cell holding the nematocyst to pressurize the chemical fluids inside of it to eject the nematocyst out of the host into the body of the prey or predator. Once in contact with the target the nematocysts opens it’s lid and pushes a barb into the skin, a thread like compartment follows deeper inside and releases the venom. The nematocysts contain a paralyzing component that leaves prey immobile, making it easy for the slow moving anemone to just reach its tentacles out to grasp the prey and carry it into its mouth. In case of a predator, the Anemone will just continue to keep stinging the unwanted intruder until its left alone.
Anemones are carnivores; they will eat small fish, shrimp, crabs, and meat scraps flowing in the water. However the Anemones diet is not strictly carnivorous, they have a friendly symbiotic relationship with a small algae living in its tentacles called “Zooxanthellae.” In fact most of the energy the anemone gets is not from meat but from the glucose the Zooxanthellae make from a photosynthetic process. By living under the anemones thin skin layer in the tentacles the Zooxanthellae gets enough lighting to produce glucose for itself and its host. The Zooxanthellae also benefits from protection and a cozy environment provided by the anemone. All the Anemone has to make sure of is that the Zooxanthellae receive enough lighting and that it still catches the occasional meat meal to maintain its protein need. The issue in the relationship comes when the Zooxanthellae starts to die and begins to decompose inside the anemone. Zooxanthellae can’t survive in temperatures of 80° Fahrenheit and higher. The decomposing algae within the anemone are expelled, and the loss of Zooxanthellae begins to take a toll on the anemone’s health. With out Zooxanthellae the anemone cannot live, even if it were well fed with meat its health would deteriorate rather quickly. This is known as coral bleaching; when the hosts of algae loose their symbiotic algae and thus turn pale. Algae have a natural color of either green, dark green, red, or brown. Combined with its host makes the host look colorful. When the host is pale or white, it’s been “bleached” because it's lost the algae inside. Anemones and corals host algae with high dependence. Corals make a domino effect when they are bleached; many different types and species depend on corals for food and homes. When the corals turn bleached, they themselves die and so do the animals that depend on the coral. This is a major disaster because coral bleaching is destroying reefs and is giving the marine community a hard time finding a way to reverse coral bleaching. Anemones also have a domino effect on animals like crabs and clown fish because they too share a symbiotic relationship with the anemone.
Anemones can host certain types of fish that are specially designed to be immune to the anemones sting. The fish’s secret is being cover in a type of mucous that does not let the nematocyst in. Different anemones host different fish and not all anemones host fish, but the once that do get a treat. At first the anemone may be reluctant to accept a new companion, so the fish comes over and gently rubs itself against the anemones tentacles. Over time the anemone sees the fish as no threat and makes an association with the fish. When the fish eats the little scraps that it leaves the Anemone eats over. The anemone in return provides shelter for the fish. Hermit crabs begin by gently tickling the anemone’s pedal disk (foot) until the anemone lets go, then grabs it and places in on top of its shell, where the Anemone can eat the scraps while the crab stays protected.
Anemones have a simple anatomic structure. They are invertebrates and can come in many sizes and colors. There are four different types of anemones, carpet, bulb, tube, and condy. Pink tip Anemones are in the species condy. Reason being for their cylinder column shaped body, an oral disk that has a hole in the middle serving a mouth and anus, tentacles surrounding the oral disk, then a pedal disk at the bottom that serves as an anchor and foot for the Anemone. Inside they have an esophagus called the “actinopharynx” leading to a simple gastro vascular system, and then a reproductive system to reproduce asexually. Anemones use locomotion to move around, they may slowly creep around, detach themselves and let a current carry them away, deflate or inflate to “swim.” When an Anemone is pleased it does not move from location, it can stay in the same spot for months. Anemones only move from location when their environment no longer pleases them. Anemones are found in different places of the ocean reefs, sometimes in deeper waters and sometimes at higher sea levels. Depending on what species your Anemone’s care requirement may be different. Carpet Anemones are known for needing a lot of sunlight, usually more than the other species.
Pink tips need to be kept at temperatures of 72 -76° Fahrenheit, 1.020 –1.024 salinity level, regular cartridge filter changes, exposure to lighting for 8-12 hours and 25% water changes once every two weeks. Anemones are “healthy” if they are fully “bloomed,” respond to food and the tentacles feel sticky. Pink Tip Anemones can be touched because the human skin is to thick for the nematocysts to get through. Regardless body parts such as the eyes, mouth, and open wounds should not come in contact with the Anemone’s tentacles. To host an Anemone you first have to start up your tank. Your tank has to be first filled with water at the right salinity level, for a starter there should be nothing in your tank but water so adding the salt bluntly is fine. After adding the salt, stir and weight 24 hours for the most accurate reading from the hydrometer. Your filter should be running with a new filter cartridge. Adding a live rock is the next step, without the live rock your tank cannot be sustained. This is part of the nitrogen cycle. The live rock works as a natural filter, adding positive bacteria that the anemones will need and establishing a balance necessary to maintain life within the tank. Nitrogen is highly nutrient for plants and algae but it’s more toxic for animals. Animals only use it for growth and reproduction but at smaller levels. Nitrogen turns into nitrate and nitrite when associated with waste and processed by bacteria. Pure nitrogen in high quantities is dangerous because to animals it intoxicates them by not letting oxygen enter the body or “blue baby” syndrome. EPA says that drinking water levels with nitrogen should not exceed 10 mg/L. The nitrogen cycle takes about a month to complete. Once the nitrogen is complete you can add the anemones gradually by first placing them in the tank still in the bag from the pet store. After 15 minutes they should be used to the temperature of their new home, and can be placed right in. Doing this stops the anemones from suffering “shock” when introduced to a new environment. Do not feed anemones on the first day; wait a two or three days to feed. They can be fed frozen shrimp, fish flakes, or pre-packaged sliced meat cubes from pet store; regular feedings are once a week. The thumb rule is one inch per gallon; if your anemone is 3 inches big it should have a 3 gallon tank and no smaller. Over crowded conditions stress its inhabitants and can make the tank lack oxygen. The lack of oxygen let’s bacteria reproduce quickly and kill your fish. Aerators can get rid of the excess bacteria. Anemones are not known to have a type of common illness (except coral bleaching,) instead they are susceptible to water quality; Water check ups should be done once a week, poor water qualities can kill an anemone. If the ph is too high or low a ph buffer can fix the problem; of course follow the instructions on the label. In spare cases vinegar and baking soda can be used as substitutes. Incase the salinity levels are off, and you have live creatures in your tank you cannot just add sea salt in the tank bluntly. Sea salt added bluntly can burn your animals, instead grab a bucket, fill it with water from the tank and add salt onto there, stir, and then place it all back into the tank.
Glucose is the product the algae and its host thrive on, however what happens when the glucose level is over done? Hyperglycemia is the result of to much sugar in the blood system. Glucose is either stored in the body, used by the body for energy or by brain for storing and retrieval operations. Normal sugar levels are 60-110 mg/dL. Anything above indicates a sugar disorder. Hyperglycemia causes diabetes; diabetes is a disorder where your body cannot regulate its blood sugar levels with a natural hormone called insulin. Insulin cannot be taken in pill form as a treatment because of stomach acid making it inactive. Instead insulin shots, physical activities and fiber diets are given as a treatment. Hypoglycemia is the lack of glucose in the body. The body responds by causing hunger and turning to fat storages to retrieve needed sugar. Irritability, consistent anxiety, cold sweats, muscular shaking are signs of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia does not have a serious debilitating illness, but should not be ignored. Hypoglycemia points to bad eating habits. Carbohydrates can help and alcoholic drinks have to be avoided.
There are different types of beans but all beans contain protein. Beans can also contain fiber, magnesium, iron and zinc. In vegetarian and vegan diets that consume no animal meat, beans and rice are turned to instead to get the dietary protein in the body. Alanine is an amino acid that is used to build protein, and is required for the metabolism of glucose. It helps reduce cholesterol. It’s not an essential acid but does help. It’s a derivative of vitamin B5 and Coenzyme A.
The most common use of a syringe is to inject medicine however in the scientific field it’s used to test a new chemical substance before it is usually released as a new available drug. The syringe consists of a plunger, barrel, and needle. Syringes are dangerous because they can easily get into the flesh and inject air into the system. Air bubbles in a syringe are lethal. When properly handling a syringe the user has to first take the cap of the needle and hold in one hand to avoid contamination. If the cap comes in contact with a microbe or other pollutants it can contaminate the needle, which then transfers the pollutant onto the subject injected. Hands should be washed, gloves used, needles sterilized or disposed of into designated areas. Syringes can be reused if rinsed with water and sterilized with alcohol. Getting the right volume of measurement is essential. First you grab the syringe plunger and pull a bit of air into the barrel, then dip the syringe tip and suck the amount needed into the barrel, lastly at a slight angle inject the needle on to the subject gently but not exceedingly slow. When done cap of the needle immediately.
Links:
Links:
AboutFishOnline.SeaAnemones http://www.aboutfishonline.com/articles/seaanemone.html
Aquatics Unlimited, http://www.bestfish.com/salty.htmlBiol Bull.Role of Symbiotic Algae (Zooxanthellae) In Coral Calcification.
Dr.Oram Brian.Nitrates and Nitrites. http://www.water-research.net/nitrite.htm
